Apparatus for capping bottles



Feb. 13, 1940. E, Q BAUM 2,190,509 y lAPPARATUS FOR CAPPING BOTTLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. G. BAUM APPARATUS FOR CAPPING BOTTLES Filed Feb. 5, 1936 Feb. 13, 1940.

Feb. 13, 1940.,-I IE,'G BAUM 2,190,509

APPARATUS FOR CAPPTNG BOTTLES Fled Feb. 5. 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 13, 1940. E. G. BAUM 2,190,509

I APPARATUS FOR CAPPING BOTTLES Feb. 13,1940. E. G. BAUM APPARATUS FOR CAPPING BOTTLES Filed Feb. 5, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 13, 1940. E. G; BAUM APPARATUS FOR CAPPING BOTTLES h1 9p. Em,

6 Sheets-Shee'tl 6 Filed Felb. 5, 1936 Patented Feb.`l3, l9l0 l Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,190,509 APPARATUS Fon cAPPlNG BOTTLES Ewald G. Baum, Natick, Mass., assignor to American Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application February 5, 193s, serial No. 62,469

v 17 claims. (ci. 22e-so) This invention relates to the capping of bottles as required and they may be supplied so packaged and more particularly to those in which milk and for use with the machine of this invention. cream are commonly sold. In order that the margins of the larger disks One object of this invention is to close the shall remain in close engagement with the bottle bottle by a cap which covers over the pouring lip necks after having been conformed thereto by 5 so as to protect all portions of the bottle mouth the capping machine, they may be suitably treatwith which the milk is liable to contact from ed, and if desired, by material which may be temcontamination. porarily softened in the capping machine in A further object is to form the caps directly on order to. facilitate their conformation to the botthe bottles from materials which can be packed tle. 'The machine may therefore be provided 10 for shipment in convenient. and compact form so with suitable cap-softening means. that they may be shipped with great economy.` For a more complete understanding of this in- A further object is to provide a cap construcvention, reference may be had to the accompanytion which requires little fabrication previous to ing drawings in which shipment and from cheap materials so that cost Figures 1 and 2 are side elevation and top plan 15 of material delivered to the capping machine views, respectively, of the capping portion of a may be small. bottle filling and capping machine.

A further object is to produce a capping ma- Figure 3 is a section on line' 3-3 of Figure 1. chine capable of taking the materials as shipped Figures 4 and 5 are detail sections on lines 4-4 2o and forming them to and securing them in sealin and 5 5, respectively, of Figure 3. 20 relation to the bottle mouths. Figure 6 is a section to a larger scale of the A still further object is to so form the machine machine on line 6--6 of Figure 2 and ShOWinS that it can be applied as a unit to a well known no bottle mechanism. form of bottle filling machine to properly func- Figures 7, 8 and 9 are fragmentary elevations of tion therewith. parts shown in Figure 6,'Figures 7 and 8 showing 25 Still another object is to provide such a mathe lower limit of motion of the capping mechachine which shall be responsive to the presence nism with and without a bottle present, respecof a bottle in order to be actuated. tively, and Figure 9 showing the mechanism on To the accomplishment of these and other obthe up stroke. jects, as may later appear, each cap as delivered Figure 10 is a detail section on line lll-I0 of 30 to the capping machine comprises a piece, prefer- Figure 7 but to a larger scale. ably a disk of Suitable material such as water- Figures 11, 12 and 13 are sections simiiar to a DIOOf paper having a margin' S0 treated that it portion of Figure 3, but showing successive stages may be applied about and conformed to the outin the capping of a bottle. side wall of the bottle below its mouth and after Figure 14 is a view partly in section and partly 35 having been S0 conformed Will retain `its Shape. in side elevation showing the cap feeding mechasealing off the contents of the bottle and pronism in its inner position. tecting the pouringrlip against the Possibility 0f Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective of the being contaminated in any way as long as the cap diskcgnforming mechanism. remains sealed thereto. If desired, also, and Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views of por- 40 preferably, a smaller disk such as is commonly tions 'of the mechanism shown in Figure 15. used to close a milk bottle, may be superposed on Figure 18 is a detail section on line la-ls of the central portion of the larger disk to. reinforce Figure 15 it and the two forced down together against the Figure 1'9 is a fragmentary perspective showing internal annular ledge with which milk bottles the disk Strip and its manner of feeding are ordinarily provided.

In order that the material for the caps may Figures 20 21 and 22 are perspective" lguis be packaged economically the'large pieces or disks 21 and 22 being partly rengfy' milt iss aging may be partly cui; from a stl-1p which may be successive conditions o e as el) woundinto a coil or roll. This coil may be unconformed t0 the bottle- 50 wound as needed by the capping machine and the Figure 23 1S a fragmentary perspective partly partially severed pieces completely severed sucin SetiOn Showing the bottle cappedcessively as they are required. The smaller disks Figure 24 is a view somewhat similar to Figure are commonly completely cut and arranged in 16 but illustrating a modification.

o5 stacks from one end oi' which they are removed Figure 25 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing a further modiiication.

Figure 2b is a fragmentary view partly in section illustrating certain of the mechanism of Figure 24 in a dilerent position.

Figure 27 is a detail section on line 21-21 of Figure 25.

Cap forming and applying mechanism Referring rst to Figure 1, at I is indicated a platform for supporting bottles to be capped.

This may be the bottle-supporting platform of a well known form of al bottle lling and capping machine known commercially as the Milwaukee filler. I'hese machines are provided with a. pair of stationary posts or rods 2 upstanding therefrom in spaced relation to which may be adjustably clamped stationary portions of a bottle capping machine and between these posts 2 is positioned an axially movable upright bar or rod 3 which is reciprocated to effect capping and bottlereleasing operations. Applied to these rods 2 and v3 are the stationary and actuating portions of the capping mechanism of this invention. The stationary parts comprise a pair of bracket arms 4 each having an integral sleeve portion 5 which may be secured at the desired elevation rigidly to the bars 2, as by means of the clamp nuts 6 se- Cured to suitable clamp screws in a manner well known in the art. The bracket 4, as shown, supports a pair of capping mechanisms so that two bottles may be capped simultaneously as is usual practice with such machines, although of course any other number desired might be employed. Each bracket 4, therefore, is provided adjacent to its sleeve portion 5 with a circular opening I0 within which is vertically slidable `a sleeve II. Each of these sleeves II is shown as closed oil at its upper end, as by means of a threaded plug I2 through which extends slidably a rod I3 having a head I4 at its lower end of a size suicient to prevent complete withdrawal of the rod I3 upwardly through the plug I2.

A bracket I5 is secured in any suitable way to the upper portion of the actuating rod 3, this rod being provided with slots I6 at suitable intervals to selectively receive securing means by which the bracket I5 may be xed in the desired position with respect to the rod 3. As shown in Figure 6, this securing means may comprise a plug I1 having a fm I8 which may be projected into any selected slot by means of a spring I9 reacting between the plug I1 and a stationary plug 20 secured in the outer end of a socket 2I in which the plug I1 is slidable. A rod 22 having an eye 23 at its outer end to form a handle may be passed through a central opening in the plug 20 and be secured as by threading into the plug I 1, so that by pulling outwardly on the eye portion 23 the plug I1 may be released from the notch I6 to permit the bracket I5 to be moved axially of the rod 3.

The bracket I5 has a pair of arms 25 and 26 projecting therefrom. The arm 25 is provided with a lsleeve portion 21 through which the rod I3 extends, The upper end of this rod I3 has' fixed thereto a collar 28, and a collar 29 is secured to the rod I3 below the sleeve 21. rod I3 between the sleeve 21 and the collar 28 is a coil spring 3U, and surrounding the rod I3 between the collar 29 and the top of the plug I2 is a spring 3I. Descent of the bracket I5, therefore, from the position shown in Figure 1, acts to depress the rod I3 positively and through the spring 3l to depress the sleeve II yieldingly. Slidable within the sleeve I I is a hollow plunger 35 having Surrounding the a ange 36 at its upper end which may ride between the plug I2 and an annular shoulder 31 on the inner wall of the sleeve II spaced somewhat below the plug I2. The lower end of the plunger 35 is closed off as by a head portion 40, and seated on the upper end of this head portion is a coil spring 4I which is contained within the hollow central portion 42 of the plunger 35 and which bears against the lower end of the head I4, which is slidably guided in the portion 42.

Slidable between the outer face of the plunger 35 and the inner wall of the sleeve II is a sleeve 45, the lower end of which is formed as an annular clamp 46 which may be brought down to press sheet-capping material, as at 41, against the top of the bottle mouth 48 of the milk bottle 49 positioned therebeneath.' Above the clamping portion 46 this sleeve 45 is provided on one side with a slot 50 through which disks, such as the usual cardboard disks commonly used for capping milk bottles, may be fed in to the interior of the sleeve 45 beneath the plunger head 40. A coil spring 5I reacts between the lower face of the plunger head 36 and the upper face of an annular socket 52 in the upper end of the sleeve 45 and yieldingly holds of the sleeve II as by a threaded joint at 64. The f lower end of the sleeve 60 carries a lower annular clamping element 65 which is depressed toward the clamping element 63 by the spring 62. This clamping element 65 is shown as provided with a v flaring annular internal face 66 which may be projected over the bottle mouth during the capping operation, as shown in Figures 3 and 11, to guide the bottle mouth into proper position.

When the rod 3 is in its highest position the rod I3 is yieldingly held in its extreme upper position by the spring 30 and through the engagement of the head I4 on the lower face of the plug I2, the sleeve II with the parts carried thereby is also held in elevated position so that the bottle 49 may be moved beneath it as shown in Figures 1 and 6. In this position of the parts the disk 'I0 may be in position within the clamping sleeve 45 opposite to the slot 50 through which it was inlower face of the bracket 4 and been stopped thereby, while the sleeve II carrying the rupper clamp element 63 has been further raised-to separate the clamping elements 63 and 65 so that a piece of sheet material 1I larger than the disk 1I) may be placed therebetween as shown in Figure 14. This is the position of the parts when the bottle is placed in position for capping as in Figures 1 and 6. As the rod 3 is depressed for a capping operation the sleeve II is moved downwardly under increasing pressure of the spring 3|, bring` ing the upper clamping element 63 downwardly to clamp the sheet material 1I against the lower clamping element 65, as shown in Figure 3, and

the sleeve 45 is brought down toward the bottle top until it engages the sheet material and presses 45 is stopped. Further downward motion of the rod I3 acts with the increasing pressure of the spring 4I to depress the lplunger 35, forcing the disk I0 ahead of it and into contact with the upper face of the sheet material 1|, and on further downward movement of this plunger, the disk 10 superposed on the piece 1I, is forced into the mouth of the bottle and seated against its annular internal shoulder 12, the sheet material 1| being pulled inwardly beneath the clamping sleeve 45 and from between the clamps 63 and 85. The parts are then in the position shown in Figure 12, the plunger 35 in the lower portion of its stroke engaging on the shoulder 31 of the sleeve and carrying this sleeve, together with the annular clamping members 83 and 65 with it, thus freeing the marginal portion of the sheet material 1|.

Further depression of the rod I3 acts through the spring 3| to carry the sleeve I I further downwardly and causes a series of wiping elements 15 carried thereby to wipe down the marginal portion of the sheet material 1I about the mouth of the bottle, completely covering the pouring lip at its top and engaging the sheet material beneath its flaring rim or top portion 18, this to complete the application of the disk 10 and the sheet material 1| to the bottle mouth. The rod 3 is then moved upwardly, raisingthe bracket I5 and acting through the spring 30 to lift the sleeve I I with the parts carried thereby, and permitting these parts to return to the positions shown in Figure 14.

In order to facilitate the wiping of the sheet 1I about the top of the bottle, the clamping elements 63 and 85 may provided with radially arranged serrations 18, as shown best in Figure 14, which act to define fold lines 19 for the sheet material as shown'in Figure 20. The first downward motion of the clamping elements 83 and 85 thereafter acts to bend the margins of the piece 'II downwardly as shown in Figure 21. The disk 10 being superposed yin the central portion of the sheet 'II, which as shown is of disk form but of larger diameter than the disk 10, the two are pressed inwardly against the bottle ledge, the

cap being formed as shown in Figure 22, while the action of the wiping elements 15 conforms to the margin of the piece 1| to the bottle top, as shown best in Figure 23. 'I'he central portion of the element 1| within the area of the mouth, and reinforced by the disk 10, closes the bottle, while the remainder of the element 1| is conformed to and about the pouring lip and the outer face of. the bottle adjacent to its mouth.

In Figures 15 to 18 is shown a construction suitable for the wiping elements 15 together with their immediate mountings. As shown, each of these elements consists of a spring strip having its lower end turned inwardly and downwardly and outwardly as at 80, its upper end turned inwardly and then outwardly to form a bearing portion 8| which may ride on the outer face of the clamping sleev I5, and an intermediate outwardly bent portio 82. Each of these wiping elements may be lsupported in a rigid bar 85 shown detached in Figure 17. Each oi these bars is formed segmental in cross section so that a plurality may be arranged together in annular form as shown in Figure 15. Each is provided with an ear 88 extending inwardly from one edge portion, and from this ear a pin 81 extends substantially parallel to the adjacent front face of the bar, which is shown as formed concave at 83, to receive the bent portion 82 of the wiper element 15 between it and the pin 81. Preferably as shown in Figure 11. When the bars are assembled` as shown in Figures 15 and 18, these ears 86 in pairs form side walls to retain laterally therebetween the wiper elements 15 which are thus prevented from lateral separation from their respective bars 15. These bars may be secured in assembled annular array within the sleeve |I in any suitable manner, but as shown their ends are beveled as at 90 and 900. Their upper ends engage a complementally beveled shoulder 9| on the inner face of the sleeve I I, and they are held in engagement with this shoulder by means of, 'an annular collar 92 threaded into the lower end portion of the sleeve and having a beveled upper face complementally formed to the beveled ends 8| of the bars 85. These wipers 15, therefore, are so mounted as to form an annular series of spring iingers, which, as the sleeve is moved downwardly, engage'the outer margin of the disk 1| and wipe it down about and under the enlarged mouth portion of the bottle.

In some cases it may be desired to impart a rotary motion to the wiping mechanism in order to spin the margin of the .disk 1I about the mouth of the bottle. Where this is desired, constructions such as are shown in Figures 24 to 27 may be employed. In place of the bars with their spring wiper fingers 15 the sleeve IIa shown in Figure 24 may be provided near its lower end with an enlarged diameter portion |00 within which may be supported upper and lower thrust A "ball bearings |0I and |02 between which may be mounted a ring member |03. This ring member maybe provided with slots within which are pivoted, as on the pivots |04, levers |06. The upper ends of these levers are pressed outwardly as by coil springs |01 reacting between them andthe inner ends of spring sockets |01 in the ring member |03 so as to press their lower ends toward the clamping sleeve 45. Within the lower end of each of these levers |06 may be journaled a ball IIO which engages with the marginal portion of the sheet material 1I during the capping operation. The ring member |03 may be provided at its upper portion with gear teeth which mesh with an idler gear I I2 journaled on a stub shaft II3 secured to a portion of the sleeve Ia, and this idler I|2 may mesh with a long gear Ill carried by a-rotary shaft I|5 journaled in a suitable portion of the supporting bracket 4a. A collar ||8 secured to the shaft I I5 may be used to hold the long gear |I4 in desired axial position and the shaft |I5 may be rotated by any suitable means, it being shown as provided with a belt pulley I I1 at the upper end about which a driving belt II8 may be passed. Rotation of the shaft |I5 will thus cause rotation of the wiping elements comprising the levers |08 with their ball ends` I0 so that as the cap is being applied to the bottle .the balls I I0 will act to spin the material into engagement with the bottle top.

It may, however, not be desired in many instances to rotate the wiping fingers continuously as they function only when the cap is being applied, and in order that they may be idle at other times, the driving Amechanism shown in Figures 25 and 26 may be substituted for that shown in Figure 24. In place of the driving shaft I5 with its long gear II4, may be substituted a driving shaft |20 to which the driving pulley |I1 may be attached, this shaft |20 being supported by suitable thrust bearings as at |2I and |22. Slidably keyed to the lower portion of the shaft an anti-friction roller 8l is mounted on each pin |20 is a conical clutch element |28 which is normally held in a somewhat elevated position as by means of a spring |24. The idler gear ||3 meshes with a gear portion |25 of a clutch element |26 through which the shaft |20 rotatably passes. This element |26 is supported for rotation as by ball bearings |21 and |28 from the sleeve Ila, and when this sleeve is in its Vso ' |63 permitting vertical bracket 4 as desired, to suit the height of the y elevated position the element |26 is out of engagement with the clutch element |23, so that rotation of the shaft |20 is not transmitted to the wiping elements. However, when the sleeve Ila is depressed to eect a capping operation, the clutch element |26 is brought down into engagement with the clutch element |23 and both together are then pressed downwardly against the pressure of the spring |24 into the full cap applied position shown in Figure 26. During the time that the clutch elements |26 and |23 are in contact, rotation of the shaft |20 produces the desired rotary spinning action of the balls ||0, but when the capping mechanism is in its upper position the balls ||0 are stationary.

The material for sealing the bottles as thus described, it will be noted, comprises the relatively small diameter disk 10 and the relatively large sheet material piece 1| which is preferablyl also in disk form. As shown in Figure 14, the small disk 10 may be arranged in a stack in a receptacle |50 which may be carried by thebracket 4, there being one such receptacle for each capping device. The elements 1|, may, as shown best in Figure 19, be partially severed from a. strip and this strip may be formed into a coil, as shown in Figure 1 at |52, from which the element 1| may be led off and completely severed as desired. If desired, also, they may have their margins coated with material of a thermoplastic nature which may be softened under heat to facilitate their conformation to the necks of the bottles, whereupon on being allowed to cool they rigidify and effectively resist accidental removal. Where this is desired a heating element of any suitable description, such as an electric heater shown at |55, may be secured by any suitable means to the lower face of the clamp member 65, so that these clamp members will be heated and soften the marginal portion of the element 1| preparatory to the conforming of this margin to the bottle top.

Cap strip feed The elements 1| are fed into position between the clamps, the sleeve 60 having a slot at |58 for this purpose, and one or both of the clamp elements may have cutting edges as at |59 so that the closing of the clamp on the initial downward motion of the sleeve will complete the severing of the element 1| in capping position from those outside of the sleeve 60. The coil |52 may be supported on a suitable holder |'60 carried by a platform portion |6| which connects and spaces the brackets 4, and this may also be supported by a bracket |62 and a link |63 from 'the table I, a slot |64 in the link adjustment of the bottles being capped.

Cap disk feeding mechanism The actuating bracket |5 has on the outer end of its arm 26 a sleeve 200 slidably engaging a cap feeding actuating rod 20|, there being oneA of these rods 20| for eachcapping device.- A collar 202 is ilxed to the upper end of each of `through a feed slide 2|5.

the rods 20| and a. collar 203 is slidable thereon and is normally held pressed against the upper end of the sleeve 200, as by means of a coil spring 204. The sleeve 200 rests on the upper end of a spring 205, the lower end of whichis seated against a shoulder 206 formed on the lower bifurcated end 201 of the rod 20|. This bifurcated portion 201 is pivoted to one end of an arm 208 xed to a rock shaft 209 carried by the stack supply |50, and on opposite sides thereof arms 2|0 are carried by this rock shaft. The lower ends of the arms- 2|0 are slotted as at 2|| to take over a pin 2|2 which extends This feed slide, as shown best movablealong a track 220 and is provided with a plate 22| which is slidable beneathf'the open lower end ofthe stack support |50 so that on in Figure 3, isr

the inward motionof the slide it takes the lowest disk in the stack and moves it from the stack and projects it into the sleeve 45 through the slot 50, while in its outward'movement it slides beneath the disks in the stack to its extreme retracted position shown in Figure 3 in which it permits the stack tovdescend to present the lowest disk thereon into position to be engaged on the next feeding` movement of the slide. The slide 2|5 also carries a feed dog 225 having a serrated foot 22'6 which rests on the upper face of the strip of elements 1|, and as the slide is moved to feed a disk from the reservoir |50 it also feeds the strip of elements 1| in the guideway 228. Retractive motion of the strip on reverse motion of the slide 2|5 is prevented by abutments 230 projecting upwardly from the guide 228 and presenting inclined or sloping faces-23| to the forward passage of an element 1| and abrupt shoulder portions 232 to the rearl Means are provided, however, by which, should no bottle be in position beneath the clamping device on a capping stroke so that the disks Would not be applied to a bottle and thus removed With it on the up-stroke, whereby on the next upward stroke of the cap-applying mechanism the feed slide is inoperative to feed other disks and elements 1|,to the capping mechanism. To this end the upper arm `208 is provided with an extension 24|, which, when no bottle has been present, is held beneath al locking dog 242 pivoted as at 243 to the portion |50.

This locking dog 242 may-be retained in either of two angular positions as by means of a spring ball detent or dog at 244 (see Figure l0) which may engage in either of apair lof depressions 245 and 246 in the dog 242. This dog is provided with an angular cam tail 246 against which may ride a roller 249 on a camlever 250'pivoted as at 25| to a bracket support 252 secured to the upper face of the sleeve plug |2. A stop lug 253 limits the rocking' movement of the lever 250 in one direction. When'a bottle is in position to be acted on the descent of the sleeve is limited by the clamp sleeve 45 striking on an `limit of motion the roller 249 engages the shoulder portion 255 of the cam tail 248, thus holding the dog 242 out of the path of motion of the portion 24| of the lever 208, or, if the dog was not previously in this position, moving it thereto as shown in Figure '7. Onthe next upstroke of the capping mechanism, therefore, there is nothing to prevent the feeding motion of the cap slide so that the mechanism functions in its normal manner.v If, however, no bottle has been in capping position, the sleeve Il is permitted a downward motion further than its normal limit into the position shown in Figure 8, whereupon the roller 249 isbrought down vagainst the portion 256 of the stop dog, forcing it'into the position shown in Figure 8 where it obstructs the motion of the arm 208, and thus prevents the cap feeding motion on the succeeding retraction of the bracket I5, the final portion of this retraction being expended in compressing the spring 204. lQn the next downward motion of the capping mechanism, when this mechanism approaches the normal limit, as when a bottle is present,vthe roller 249 engaging on' the tail 249, moves the dog out of engagement with the portion 24|, but if this downward motion is prolonged, as when no bottle is present, it immediately returns the dog to obstructing position as shown in Figure 8. Upward motion lof the capping mechanism is 4ineffective to move the dog since the roller 249 is permitted to be depressed, rocking the Alever 259 -away from the .stop 252, the ball detent holding the dog against the relatively small pressure necessary to eiect the rocking of the lever 250 as shown in Figure 9.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention, it shouldbe evident to those skilled in the. art that Various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit o'r scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. I claim: l l. In a bottle capping machine, a plurality of outwardly yieldable `Wipers arranged in circular series, means for moving said wipers as a unit axially of the bottle to wipe the marginal `portion of sheet material extending across the mouth of said bottle down around and beneath a rim at said mouth, and means for rotating said wipers about the bottle axis, said means includ- -ing a continuously rotating drive element and v a driven element connected to said wipers and in driven relation to'said driving element only when saidl wipers are in sheet material engaging axial position.

2. In a bottle capping machine, a tubular member having an internal undercut shoulder, a series of bars having tapered extremities, one of which extremities is engageable with said shoulder, a ring engageable within said member spaced from said shoulder and having a tapered end engageable with the other ends of said bars to retain them in assembied position, and yieiding cap engaging elements carried by said bars. 3. In a bottle capper, a plurality of capengaging elements arranged in circular series and between4 which the mouth of a bottle to be capped may -be extended, and al ball journaled in each of said elements for engagement with a cap.

4. In a bottle capper, a plurality of cap-engaging elements arranged in circular series andV between which the mouth of a bottle to be capped may be extended, a ball journaled in each of said elements for engagement with a cap, means for turning said elements about the axis of `said series, and means 'for moving said elements and bottle Arelatively axially of said bottle while in contact with each other. l

5, In a bottle capping machine, a series of bars each having a flange portion projecting from one edge and a pin projecting from said portion spaced from a face of said bar, a lspring element engaged between each pin and said face, and means for holding said bars in circular series `with said' flanges in spaced relation, adjacent pairs of flanges retaining between them one of said elements. y

6. In a bottle capping machine, a series of bars each having a flange portion projecting from one edge and apin projecting fromv said portion spaced from a face of said bar, a spring element engaged between each pin and said face, a tubular member within which said bars are positioned for holding said bars in circular series with said anges in spaced relation, adjacent pairs of nanges retaining between them one of said elements, and means for securing said bars within said member.

7. In a bottle. capping machine, a sleeve having an annular end portion for holding capping material againstthe top of a bottle mouth, means for crimpling the material outwardly of said holding portion, means movable axially of said sleeve for wiping the crimped portion of the material about the outer. face of said bottle mouth, and means for rotating said wiping means about the axis of said sleeve.

8. In a bottle capping machine, a bracket having a bore for slidably receiving a capping mechanism, said mechanism comprising three concentric members slidable relative to each other and within said bore, the inner member having a head at its upper end slidably guided for hunted motion in the outer of said members and closed clamping portion for wiping the marginal portion i y of a capping member released from between said clamping members down about the mouth of a vbottle to be capped, an actuating rod slidably guided in the` innermost concentric member and spring-supported therefrom and having a head engaging said outer concentric member to lift said concentric members, means carried by said support for limiting the upward motion of said Alower clamp member as said concentric members are lifted to release clamping pressure on thev capping material, and means for reciprocating said rod.

9. In a. bottle capping machine, a bracket having a bore for slidably receiving a capping mechanism, said mechanism comprising three concentric members slidable relative to each other and within said bore, the inner member having a head at its upper end slidably guided for limited motion in the outer of said members and closed on at its lower end to form a cap-applying plunger, a spring reacting between said head and the intermediate member, the lower end of which intermediate member is shaped to clamp sheet material against the upper end of a bottle to be capped, said outer member carrying the upper member of a marginal sheet maternal clamp, a lower annular clamp member spring-supported from said outer concentric member, wipers carried by said outer concentric member above its clamping portion for wiping the marginal portion of a capping member released from between said clamping members down 4about the mouth of bottle to be capped, an actuating rod slidably guided in the innermost concentric member and spring-supported therefrom and having a head engaging said outer concentric member to lift said concentric members, means carried by said support for limiting the upward motion of said lower clamp member as said concentric members are lifted to release clamping pressure on the capping material, means for reciprocating said rod, said outer and intermediate concentric members having slots mating when said concentric members are lifted, and means acting to feed a disk through said slots beneath said plunger.

10. In a bottle capping machine, a bracket having a bore for slidably receiving a capping mechanism, said mechanism comprising three concentric members slidable relative to each other and within said bore, the inner member having a head at its upper end slidably guided for limited motion in the outer of said members and closed off at its lower end to form a cap-applying plunger, a spring reacting between'said head and the intermediate member, the lower end of which intermediate member is shaped to clamp sheet material against the upper end of a bottle to be capped, said outer member carrying the upper member of a marginal sheet material clamp, a`

lower annular clamp member spring-supported from said outer concentric member, wipers carried by said outer concentric member above its clamping portion for wiping the marginal portion of a capping member released from between said clamping members down about the mouth of a bottle to be capped, an actuating rod slidably guided in the innermost concentric member and spring-supported therefrom and having a head engaging said outer concentric member to lift said concentric member, means carried by said support for limiting the upward motion of said lower clamp member as said concentric members are lifted to release clamping pressure on the capping material, means for reciprocating said rod, said outer and intermediate concentric mem'- bers having slots mating when said concentric members are lifted, and means acting to feed a disk through said slots'beneath said plunger and for simultaneously feeding sheet material between said clamping members. p

11. -In a bottle capping machine, a bracket having a bore for slidably receiving a capping mechanism, said mechanism comprising -three concentric members slidable relative to each other and within said bore, :the inner member having a head at its upper end slidably guided for limited motion in the outer of said members and closed olf at its lower end to form a cap-applying plunger, a spring reacting between said head and the intermediate member, the lower end of which intermediate member is shaped. to clamp sheet material against the upper end of a bottle to be capped, said outer member carrying the upper member 'of a marginal sheet material clamp, a

lower annular clampl member spring supported from said outer concentric member, wipers carried by said outer concentric member aboveits clamping portion for wiping the marginal portion of a capping member released from between said clamping members down about the mouth of a bottle to be capped, an -actuating rod slidably guided in the innermost concentric member and spring supported therefrom and having a head engaging said outer concentric member to lift said concentric member, means carried by said support for limiting the upward motion of said lower clamp member as said concentric members are lifted to release. clamping pressure of the capping material, means for reciprocatingA said rod, said outer and intermediate concentric mem'- bers having slots mating when said concentric members are lifted, and means acting to f eed a disk through said slots vbeneath said plunger and for simultaneously feeding sheet material between said clamping members, said machine including means for rendering said feeding means inoperative should a bottle not have been in capping position after the previous feed.

12. A bottle capping machine comprising three concentric members, the outermost of said mem` bers being a sleeve and having its lower end formed to clamp sheet material, the intermediate member being formed as a sleeve with its lower end shaped to clamp said sheet material against the mouth of abottley to be capped, the inner of .said members being formed as a plunger to depress the central portion of said sheet material into the bottle mouth, wipers supported between said intermediate and outer members for wiping the margin of said sheet material about the outside of the bottle adjacent to its top, and means for moving said concentric members relatively axially in proper timed relation to conform said material to the mouth portion of the bottle.

13. A bottle capping machine comprising three concentric members, the outermost of saidmembers being a sleeve and having its lower end formed to clamp sheet material, the intermediate member being formed as a sleeve with its lower end shaped to clamp said sheet material against the mouth of a bottle to be capped, the inner of said members being formed as a plunger to depress the central portion of said sheet material into the bottle mouth, wipers supported between said intermediate and outer members for wiping the margin of said sheet material about the outside of the bottle adjacent to its top, each of said wipers havinga ball journaled. therein for contact with said sheet material, and means for moving said concentric members relatively axially in proper timed relation to conform'said material to the mouth portion ofthe bottle.`

14. A bottle capping machine comprising three concentric members, the outermost of said members being a sleeve and having its lower end formed to clamp sheet material, the intermediate member being formed as a sleeve with its lower end shaped to clamp said sheet material against the mouth of a bottle'to be capped, the inner of said members being formed as a plunger to depress the central portion of said sheet material into the bottle mouth, wipers supported between said intermediate and outer members for wiping the marg' '1 of said sheet material about the outside of the bottle adjacent to its top, means for rotating said wipers about the axis of said concentric members. and means for moving said concentric members relatively axially in proper timed relation to conform said material to the mouth portion of the bottle.

15. A bottle capping machine comprising three concentric members, the outermost of said members being a sleeve and having its lower end formed to clamp sheet material, the intermediate member being formed as a sleeve with its lower end shaped to clamp said sheet lmaterial against the mouth of a bottle to be capped,the inner of said members being formed as a plunger to depress the central portion of said sheet material into the bottle mouth, wipers supported between said intermediate and outer members for wiping the margin of said sheet material about the' outside of the bottle adjacent to its top, each of said wipers having a ball journaled for contact with said sheet material, means for rotating said wipers about the axis of said concentric members, and means for moving said concentric members relatively axially in proper timed relation to conform said material to the mouth portion of the bottle.

16. A bottle capping machine comprising three concentric members, the outermost of said members being a sleeve and having its lower end formed to clamp sheet material, the intermediate member being formed as a sleeve with its lower end shaped to clamp said sheet material against the mouth of a bottle to be capped, the inner of said members being formed as a plunger to depress the central portion oi' said sheet material into the bottle mouth, wipers supported between said concentric members only when said wipers are in engagement with said sheet material.

1'1. A bottle capping machine comprising three concentric members, the outermost of said members being a sleeve and having its lower end formed to clamp sheet material, the intermediate member being formed as a sleeve with its lower end shaped to clamp said sheet material against the mouth of a bottle to be capped, the inner of said members being formed as va plunger to depress the central portion of said sheet material intothe bottle mouth, wipers supportedv between said intermediate and outer members for wiping the margin of said sheet material about the outside of the bottle adjacent to its top, means for moving said concentric members relatively axially in proper timed relation to conform said material to the mouth portion of the bottle, and means including a driving clutch for rotating said wipers constructed and arranged to close when said wipers are moved downwardly with said outermost member into wiping position and to be open at other times.

EWALD G. BAUM. 

